According to The Charlotte Observer, Smith sarcastically said his knee was "71 percent" healthy as his reps were limited. Smith has been running and cutting since earlier in the week, and we expect him to be out there against a 49ers defense allowing a league-low 14.9 points per game since Week 4.

Also for the Panthers, running back Jonathan Stewart practiced Wednesday for the first time since tearing his MCL in Week 14. The team has employed a cautious approach with his return in hopes that Stewart will be ready for Carolina's most important game in years.